Spike



Aug. 20, 1929. F. H. WILLIAMS 1,725,118

SPIKE Filed Nov. 16. 1922 I vbv wr M IA W drum/vs),

Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,725,118 PATENT-OFFICE.

FRANK H. WILLIAMS, F BUFFALO, NEW YORK; ANNIE M. WILLIAMS, COMMITTEE 0; THE PERSON AND ESTATE OF SAID FRANK H. WILLIAMS, ASSIGNOR TO THE NEW YORK.

F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF Application filed November 16, 1922. Serial No. 601,262.

It is well known that in driving a large spike into wood without a pre-drilled hole, the displacement of the wood must take place substantially longitudinally of the grain in order to avoid splitting. Furthermore, it is well known that the common square track spike displaces the wood beyond its elastic limits and so crushes it that when the spike is withdrawn the hole remains substantially the same size as the spike. The wood thus displaced thereby loses a large portion of its vitality and holding power, and the crushed and broken fibers admit moisture which hastens the decay of the wood and the rusting of the spike. It has been my object to avoid this undesirable effect as far as it is possible, and this is'accomplished by means of reducing the total amount of displacement of the wood while the holding power of the spike is not only maintained but increased by increasing the perimeter or surface of the spike in contact with the wood.

Thus, my spike, when driven into a cross-tie will so distribute the displacement of the wood that its fibers will not be forced substantially beyond their elastic limits. It is well known that the resistance to the withdrawal of a spike is dependent upon the pressure of the surrounding wood upon it. I have found from many experiments that this pressure increases with the displacement of the wood up to substantially the elastic limit thereof, beyond which amount of dis placement the pressure begins to decrease and, in consequence, there is a falling off of the withdrawal resistance. In proportioning my spike and its point, I have striven to attain this ideal condition and to cause the displacement along the grain to approximate the elastic limit of the wood, while across the grain, I have kept the displacement within an amount which might have a splitting tendency upon the wood.

The principal object of my invention has therefore been to provide a spike which may be easily driven into railroad cross-ties without the necessity of a pre-drilled hole and without splitting the wood or crushing the same beyond its elastic limits.

Another object has been to provide a spike of this nature which shall have great resistance to withdrawal.

Another object has been to provide a spike having a point so shaped that it shall provide a chisel edge, whereby the spike may be more easily driven into the wood.

The above objects and advantages have been accomplished by the device shown in the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my complete spike.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the point of the spike, showing the direction of the grain of the cross-tie, indicated by the double arrow.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a spike showing a modified form of point.

My spike comprises a body art 5, the usual head6, and a point 7. I ave found as a result of numerous experiments that a spike formed with longitudinal ribs 8 gives a very great amount of resistance to the withdrawal of the s ike as compared to spikes without ribs. These ribs are preferably formed as shown by V-shaped grooves or flutes formed in each face of the spike. I have also found that this withdrawal force is further increased by the provision of a pluralit of supplemental rib corrugations 9, which are arranged in parallel relation to the ribs 8. The point of my spike is provided with a chisel edge 10, and with a plurality of edges 1.1 joining the chisel edge with the ribs 8 of the spike, thus providing five cutting edges. I have discovered as a result of my experiments that there is a certain definite angle which the edges 11 at the point of the s ike will assume with its axis or a line para lel thereto, during the pointing operation. This is the natural angle of flow of the metal as it is being pointed and will be hereina ter referred to as the pointing angle. The two diverging cutting edges 11 adjacent the sides 12 displace the wood a degree equal to the area inclosed between the sides 12 and the adjacent edges 11, as shown in Fig. 2. In this figure the double arrow shows the direction of the grain of the wood in relation to the chisel edge of the spike. The displacement, longitudinally of the grain of the wood, is substantiall equal to the area inclosed within the lines representing the chisel edge 10, the sides 13, and the cuttin edges 11. 'As shown in Fig. 2, the

edge '10 willsever the fibers of the Wood amount of displaceand cause the greater lmes substantially ment to occur along parallel to the grain of the wood. The transverse displacement, or that at rlght angles to the grain, is just suflicient to insure a snug fit of the wood against the s1d es of the spike without causing any spl tting tendency. Because of this proportionate displacement, the surface of the wood at the neck of the spike is effectively closed against the admission of moisture.

In Fig. 3, I show a fragmentary portion of a spike which is, provided with a modifled form of point. In this form, four radial cutting edges 14 are provided. These extend from the axis of the spike to the outer edges of the body thereof, and are each preferably chisel-shaped. While this form of point is not quite so efficient, yet it does not compress the fibers of the wood beyond their elastic limits, and its tendency to split the wood, into which it is driven,

is slight.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. As: a new article of manufacture, a spike formed with a plurality of ribs in parallel relation with the axis of the spike, and a point formedwith a chisel edge and a plurality of cutting edges connecting the chisel edge with the outer corners of the perimeter of the end of the spike. 1 2. As a new article of manufacture, a spike formed with aplurality of ribs in parallel relation with the axis of the spike, said ribs being formed by a. plurality of flutes, and a point comprising a chisel edge V formed by beveling the bottoms of two op,-

posite flutes and cutting edges formed by beveling the ends of each of the ribs at opposite sides thereto.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a

V spike formed with a plurality of ribs in parallel relation with the axis of the spike, said ribs being formed by a plurality of flutes, and a fluted point comprising a chisel edge formed by beveling the bottoms of two opposite flutes and cutting edges formed by beveling the ends of each of'the ribs at opposite sides thereto.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a spike formed with a .plurality of ribs in parallel relation with the axis of the spike,

I said ribs being formed by a plurality of flutes, and a point comprising a chisel edge formed by beveling the bottoms of two opposite flutes and cutting edges formed by beveling the ends of each of the ribs at opposite sides thereto, the cutting edges being so arranged that they connect the chisel edge with the outer corners of the perimeter of the end of the spike.

5. Asa new. article of manufacture, a

spike formed with a plurality of ribs in parallel relation with the axis of the spike,

said ribs being formed by a plurality of flutes, and a point comprising a chisel edge and a plurality of cutting edges connecting the chisel edge with the outer corners of the perimeter of the end of the spike, said chisel edge and cutting edges being formed by beveling the bottoms and sides of the flutes.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a spike formed with a plurality of ribs in parallel relation with the axis of the spike, said ribs being formed by a plurality of flutes, and a point comprising a. chisel edge and outwardly radiating cutting edges connecting the chisel edge with the outer corners of the perimeter of the end of the spike, such edges being formed by bevels at the ends of the flutes. i 7. As a new article of manufacture, a spike formed with a plurality of ribs in parallel relation with the axis of the spike, and a point, the point being provided with a plurality of inclined cutting edges arranged at an angle with the axis of the spike which is substantially the same as the pointing angle.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a spike formed with a plurality of ribs in parallel relation with the axis of the spike, and a point, the point being provided with achisel edge and a plurality of inclined cutting edges connecting the chisel edge with the outer ends of the ribs, the cutting edges being arranged at an angle with the axis of the spike which angle is the pointing angle of the spike. V

9. As an article of manufacture, a spike providedwith a plurality of corner ribs in parallel relation with the axis of the spike and formed by substantially V-shaped grooves, each of said grooves beginning at a point below the head and at a distance therefrom substantially equal to the combined thickness of a rail flange and tie plate, and a plurality of axially extending parallel, supplemental rib corrugations formed in the surfaces .of the grooves and arranged between the corner ribs. 10. As a new article of manufacture, a spike formed with a plurality of ribs in parallel relation with the axis of the spike, said ribs being formed bya plurality of flutes, a plurality of supplemental rib corrugations provided between the ribs and ar ranged in parallel relation thereto, and a point comprising a chisel edge formed by beveling the bottoms of two opposite flutes and cutting edges formed by beveling the ends of each of the ribs atopposite sides thereto.

11. As anew article of manufacture, a spike formed with a plurality of ribs in parallel relation with theaxis of the spike, said ribs being formed by a plurality of flutes, a plurality of supplemental rib corrugations provided between the ribs and a1.-

ranged in parallel relation thereto, and a fluted point comprising a chisel edge formed by beveling the bottoms of two opposite flutes and cutting edges formed by beveling the ends of each of the ribs at opposite sides thereto.

12. As a new article of manufacture, a spike formed with a plurality of ribs in parallel relation with the axis of the spike, said ribs being formed by a plurality of flutes, a plurality of supplemental rib corrugations provided between the ribs and arranged in parallel relation thereto, and a point comprising a chisel edge and outwardly radiating cutting edges connecting the chisel edge with the outer corners of the perimeter of the end of the spike, such edges being formed by bevels at the ends of the flutes.

13. As a new article of manufacture, a spike formed with a plurality of ribs in parallel relation with the axis of the spike, a plurality of supplemental rib corrugations provided between the ribs and arranged in parallel relation thereto, and a point, the point being provided with a plurality of inclined cutting edges arranged at an angle with the axis of the spike which angle is the pointing angle of the spike.

14. As an article of manufacture, a spike provided with a plurality of corner ribs in a parallel relation with the axis of the spike and formed by substantially V-shaped grooves beginning at a point at. a distance below the head substantially equal to the combined thickness of a rail flange and tie plate, said corner ribs extending to the opposite end of the spike, and a plurality of axially extending parallel, supplemental rib corrugations formed in the surfaces of the grooves and arranged between the corner ribs.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed by name.

FRANK H. lVILLIAMS. 

